Preview: Manchester City v Crystal Palace

15 January 2016

INTRO

After Tuesday's night defeat to Aston Villa, Palace travel to Manchester to take on the blue half of the city, who themselves were left frustrated in midweek as they were held to a goalless draw against Everton at the Etihad Stadium.

It's not been a happy hunting ground for the Eagles over the years, with City winning all four of the previous encounters at the stadium, including October's 5-1 success in the Capital One Cup, and Palace haven't beaten City away from home since December 1990.

Goals have been hard to find for Alan Pardew's men in recent weeks, and they are currently on their longest search for a Premier League goal since they chalked up five blanks in a row in February 1998.

However Connor Wickham returned from injury at Villa Park and he has had some joy against the Citizens in the past, scoring three times in his last three appearances against them.

OPPOSITION VIEW

Manuel Pellegrini: “Every game is different, we had a very difficult game against Palace in London winning in the very last minute.

“We were in a very good moment at the start of the season, scoring a lot of goals. It was a close game, maybe here in the cup was a bit easier but we don’t think tomorrow will be easy at all.

"They’re a strong team with important players.”

TEAM NEWS

Manchester City: Wilfried Bony and Fernandinho both missed City's game against Everton on Wednesday night and have been ruled out of the game against Palace.

They are two of six players who are unavailable to Pellegrini, with captain Vincent Kompany out with a calf injury as well as defensive colleague Eliaquim Mangala.

Samir Nasri and Patrick Roberts are also in the treatment room.

Crystal Palace: Pardew revealed that Dwight Gayle is about a week away from fitness after his hamstring injury, but Yannick Bolasie could be out for three or four weeks.

Connor Wickham, Marouane Chamakh and Bakary Sako are all struggling for fitness issues and will be assessed.

STATS

Manchester City have won nine and lost just one of the last 10 meetings with Palace in all competitions.

Yaya Toure has scored in four of his last five matches against the Eagles in all competitions.

Palace have failed to score in four of the last five Premier League games against the Citizens.

The Citizens last failed to score in successive home Premier League games in November 2010 (a run of three fixtures without a goal).

Sergio Aguero hasn’t scored in any of his three Premier League games against the Eagles

OFFICIALS

Jonathan Moss referees the Eagles for the second time this season, following on from the 2-0 win against West Bromwich Albion in October. His only involvement with Manchester City was overseeing their 4-1 home defeat to Liverpool the following month.

Referee: J Moss

Assistants: A Holmes and A Garrett

Fourth Official: M Clattenburg

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Manchester City wins

Draws

Palace wins

League

22

12

13

FA Cup

2

0

1

League Cup

2

0

1

Total

26

12

15

LAST MEETING AT THE ETIHAD STADIUM

28th October 2015

Manchester City 5-1 Crystal Palace

Capital One Cup Fourth Round

Kevin De Bruyne scored his sixth club goal in nine games to help Manchester City beat Crystal Palace to reach the Capital One Cup quarter-finals.

Wilfried Bony put the Premier League leaders in front when he powered in a header, before Belgian De Bruyne slotted home a second at the far post.

He then set up provider Kelechi Iheanacho, who fired in the third.

Yaya Toure made it 4-0 from the spot and Damien Delaney headed in for Palace before Manuel Garcia slotted in late.

TICKETS

Tickets are still available to season ticket holders and members at one ticket per client reference number.

Adults - £37/£39

Over 65 - £31/£33

18-21 Yrs - £31/£33

16-17 Yrs - £25/£27

Under 16 - £17/£19

TRAVEL

For directions on how to get to Etihad Stadium, read our away ground guide here.